1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)

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    Performance of greengram (vigna radiata( L.) wilczek) cultivars under different tillage methods
    (Department of Agronomy College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Abid, V; Bindhu, J S
    An experiment entitled “Performance of greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) cultivars under different tillage methods” was undertaken to study the response of selected greengram cultivars under different tillage methods and to identify the most economical combination of cultivar and tillage. The experiment was conducted during the period from December 2017 to March 2018 at Agronomy Farm, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Split plot design was adopted with three replications. The main plot treatments were four tillage methods viz., M1 - minimum tillage (primary tillage only), M2 - minimum tillage followed by pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1 kg ha-1, M3 - minimum tillage followed by post-emergence application of imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS and M4 - conventional tillage (Primary and secondary tillage) followed by two hand weedings at 15 and 30 DAS. Sub plot treatments were four cultivars; V1 –CO 6, V2 –CO 7, V3 –CO 8 and V4 -VBN (Gg)2. The growth attributes of greengram (plant height, number of branches and leaf area) at flowering and at harvest stages were influenced by tillage methods. Higher values were observed in minimum tillage followed by application of herbicide imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS and the lowest in minimum tillage. Among the cultivars, CO 8 and VBN (Gg)2 had recorded higher growth parameters. The physiological parameters, CGR, LAI, LAD and number of nodules per plant also varied with tillage methods and cultivars. The results revealed that yield parameters as well as yield were influenced by tillage methods and cultivars. Minimum tillage followed by application of imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS resulted in higher number of pods and number of seeds per pod and was at par with conventional tillage method. Among the cultivars, higher values of yield components were recorded in CO 8 followed by VBN (Gg)2. Minimum tillage followed by application of imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS recorded higher seed yield (748 kg ha-1) which was at par with conventional tillage. This was 102 per cent higher than yield from minimum tillage. The cultivar CO 8 recorded the highest seed yield (736 kg ha-1) and differed significantly from other three cultivars. All cultivars performed better under minimum tillage followed by application of imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS and conventional tillage followed by two hand weedings at 15 and 30 DAS. Among the interactions, the cultivar CO 8 in minimum tillage followed by imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 recorded higher seed yield (942 kg ha-1) and it was at par with conventional tillage. The results revealed that weed density and dry weight varied with tillage methods but not with cultivars. The weed density was lower in conventional tillage method which was at par with minimum tillage followed by herbicide sprays. The soil nutrient status was not influenced by the cultivars. Among the tillage methods, minimum tillage method recorded higher values of available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium after the experiment. The nutrient uptake was higher in minimum tillage followed by post emergence application of imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS. Economic analysis revealed that cultivar CO 8 grown under minimum tillage followed by imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS (M3V3) recorded the highest gross returns and benefit - cost ratio. Greengram cultivar CO 8 (V3) grown under minimum tillage method followed by post emergence herbicide spray of imazethapyr + imazamox @ 80 g ha-1 at 20 DAS (M3) can be recommended for summer rice fallows considering the yield and profitability.
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    Economic analysis of production, marketing and price behavior of tapioca
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Athira, E; Jesy Thomas, K
    Tapioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple food crop cultivated in several developing countreis around the globe. Among the tropical root and tuber crops, tapioca stands first in terms of area and production. India is the tenth largest producer of tapioca with production of 8.10 million tonnes from an area of 2.17 lakh hectares. India acquires its significance in global tapioca economy due to highest productivity in the world (36.4 t/ha). Among Indian states Kerala stands second in production of tapioca. The area under tapioca was showing a declining trend from the eighties which has resulted in stagnant production. In the above background, the present study was carried out with the objective of analysing the trend in area, production and productivity and price behaviour of tapioca, estimating the economics and resource use efficiency of tapioca production, identifying the marketing channels, estimating marketing costs, margins and marketing efficiency and finding out the major constraints in production and marketing of tapioca in Kerala. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. The time series data on area, production and productivity of tapioca in Kerala and India for a period of 1950-51 to 2016-17 were collected to study the trend and growth rate. Monthly average prices of tapioca in various markets of Kerala were collected to evaluate the trend and price behaviour of tapioca over the period 2002 to 2018. Primary data was collected form 120 selected farmers of Kollam district and Malappuram district using pretested interview schedule by personal interview method. Trend analysis was done to understand the growth pattern of tapioca in terms of area, production and productivity both at national and state level from 1950-51 to 2016-17. In India production and productivity of tapioca showed an increasing trend but the area was showing a declining trend. In the case of Kerala, similar trend was observed with negative growth in area for the entire period of study, but the growth for the entire period of study, but the growth rate in production was positive due to high and positive growth rate in productivity. The price behavior of tapioca in major markets of Kerala viz., Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Chalai were analyzed by decomposing the monthly price data into four components viz., secular trend, seasonal variation, cyclical variation and irregular variation assuming a multiplicative model of time series. The price of tapioca in these markets showed an increasing trend in the long run. While analyzing the seasonal variation it was noticed that during the entire study period (2002 to 2018), price of tapioca showed wide fluctuations in all the three markets. Due to high fluctuations in price no definite cycles were seen in the market prices. Co-integration analysis of tapioca prices in the above three markets were carried out and it was revealed all the three markets were integrated. In order to provide additional evidence on the direction of price transmission, Granger causality test was carried out and the results proved the existence of causality between Kozhikode and Ernakulam markets in the long run in both the directions. Unidirectional causality was found between Kozhikode and Chalai markets and Ernakulam and Chalai markets. The cost and returns were estimated using ABC cost concepts. The cost of cultivation per hectare was Rs.1, 54,619 with a net return of Rs. 43,190. It was noted that human labour accounted for 48.50 per cent of the total cost. To evaluate resource use efficiency in tapioca cultivation, Cobb-Douglas production function was fitted. Human labour and experience in farming were found to be significantly and experience in tapioca cultivation, Cobb-Douglas production function was fitted. Human labour and experience in farming were found to be significantly contributing towards the yield. Moreover, an increasing returns to scale in tapioca production was observed in the study area which implies that there is ample scope to increase the profit of farmers by proper adoption of technology and by optimal allocation of resources. Marketing plays a predominant role in agricultural development and is as important as production to any producer. Thus, an efficient marketing system can increase the level of income of producers and raise the satisfaction of cosumers. The most common marketing channel identified in the study area was channel I (Producer-village trader-wholesaler-retailer-consumer) with a marketing efficiency of 2.0, while channel IV (Producer-consumer) was found to be the most efficient channel (6.45) as there were no intermediaries. Major production constraints identified were high labour cost and labour shortage and the marketing constraints were low price and distress sale to traders. The future of tapioca lies in the promotion of diversified uses of tapioca, especially in the industrial sector so policy intervention to encourage potential entrepreneurs to start industries to produce diverse value added products from tapioca is needed to tackle these problems.
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    Studies on the effect of plant population density and age at transplanting on the growth, frequency of harvest and total vegetative yield in amaranthus (Amaranthus gangetlcus Linn.)”
    (Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1980) Sulekha, G R; Mohanakumaran, N
    Investigations wore undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to study the effect of plant population density sad age at transplanting on the growth, frequency of harvest and total vegetative yield in amaranthus. Bach of -the three groups of amaranth seedlings aged 15 days (A1,20 days (A2) end 25 days (A3) were transplanted, at three spacings namely 10 x 10 cm (S1). 15 x 10 cm (S2) end 20 x 10 cm (S3) In the population density trial low density plants (transplanted at 20 x 10 cm) exhibited overall better growth and quality characteristics. With regard to all the characters contributing to yield/harvest;, and total yield, except yield/unit area, the low density plants exhibited their clear superiority over the medium, density and high density plants.Increased number of harvests was also obtained when planted at wider spacing. However for obtaining higher yield/unit area, transplanting at 10 x 10 cm seemed to have advantage over the others. Such closely planted amaranthus came to flowering faster than the widely spaced ones. The investigation carried out with a view to understanding the effect of age at transplanting on the growth,c yield and quality in amaranth, revealed that the 25 day-old seedlings when transplanted gave better growth. With regard to the quality aspects also, the 25 day-old seedlings seemed to have a slight edge over the others. However these plants showed early initiation of flowering, thus limiting the number of possible harvests. Further,when yield and yield attributes were considered, the 15 end 20 day-old seedlings performed better. Considering all the aspects together, transplanting of 15 to 20 day-old seedlings can be recommended for obtaining higher weight of leaves/plant, higher weight of stem/plant, better leaf/stem ratio, higher yield/plant, higher yield/m end more number of harvests.
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    Investigation on the edible species of Coprinus and standardisation of techniques for its large scale artificial cultivation
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1982) Geetha, D; Chandrasekharan Nair, M
    A survey conducted in and around the college of Agriculture, Vellayani Campus revealed that the commonly occurring species of Coprinus were Coprinus lagopus (Fr.) Fr. C.disseiminatus (Pero. ex Fr.) S F Gray and C.ephemorus (Bull.ox Fr.) Fr. and among these, the most commonly occurring species was C.lsgopus. The culture of c.lagopus used for the present study was isolated from paddy straw beds of Volvarlella volvocea raised at the Department of plant Pathology and maintained on potato dextrose agar slants by subculturing periodically.
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    Design development and evaluation of a low cost paddy thresher
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1991) Mathew John; Sankaranarayanan, M R
    Though several high capacity threshers are available in the country for different crops, no thresher is found suitable for small and marginal rice farmers. Hence a low cost portable paddy thresher was developed and tested. The power operated machine consists of base, side frames, front grain shield and wire-loop cylinder. The power from the 0.5 hp motor is transmitted to the cylinder shaft by belt and pully arrangement. The optimum cylinder speed is 400 rpm. The capacity of the thresher at 14.26 per cent moisture content is 451.84 kg paddy per hour and threshing efficiency is 95.08 per cent. The mechanical damage of the grain is negligible. Two labourers are required for the whole operation. The size of the thresher is 635 x 500 x 715 mm having a gross weight of 47 kg. The cost of the thresher was worked out to be around Rs. 3600 and the cost of operation for threshing paddy was Rs. 3.00 per quintal. The unit can be fabricated by local artisans from the readily available materials and can successfully be maintained by small and marginal farmers.